Since 2022, Miriam van der Lubbe has made an important contribution as Creative Head to the further development and international positioning of Dutch Design Week. Drawing on her many years of experience in design practice and her extensive network within the design field, she has worked together with the DDW team on the next phase of the festival.
Over the past five editions, DDW has undergone a clear development in terms of content and strategy. The event has further positioned itself as an international frontrunner among European design weeks, while retaining its characteristic Eindhoven DNA.
One of Miriam’s most important steps was to bring more structure and coherence to the programme, with five missions and five design domains as a framework for its content. In addition, space was created for a broad spectrum of design disciplines: from social and speculative design to product and in-house design. Talent development was an important common thread throughout.
The connections between designers, businesses, knowledge institutions and organisations also gained a more prominent place. With the introduction of a professional programme, the focus was placed on new encounters, knowledge exchange and lasting collaborations between the design field and other sectors.
At the same time, the core of DDW remained unchanged: an international platform for designers, a source of inspiration and a meeting place where visitors discover the power and possibilities of design. The participants form the foundation of DDW. Their work, insights and innovative perspectives give the festival its content and meaning.
DDW’s international profile and audience reach have also continued to grow in recent years. Each year, the event welcomes thousands of visitors, from design students and professionals to international delegations, business leaders and representatives of government and politics. These have also included the King and Queen, who visited DDW during the past five editions.
Miriam explains her decision herself:
“Five years as Creative Head and the public face of DDW have been wonderful, intense and demanding. I have always regarded this role as an honourable responsibility alongside my work at Van Eijk & Van der Lubbe. Now it is time to focus my energy fully on my work and the studio again. With our feet firmly in the clay, we will continue to develop projects that translate strategic ambitions into the physical world. And my involvement in the design field? That will, of course, continue! Throughout my career, I have dedicated myself, in various roles, to the power of design and imagination.”
Dutch Design Foundation thanks Miriam van der Lubbe for her dedication, vision and contribution to the development of the festival.
In the coming years, the organisation will continue to build on this direction. In the spring, Dutch Design Foundation will announce more details about the programme and organisation of the next edition.
